HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 078 2022/09/20 (2020-2022) REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: September 20, 2022 Re: Comm. No. 945/Bill No. 202
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 9:30 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning, to which was referred Bill No. 202, reports as follows:
Bill No. 202, submitted by Mayor Mitchell D. Roth, via Communication No. 945, dated
August 10, 2022, amends Section 25-8-4 (South Kona Zone Map), Article 8, Chapter 25
(Zoning) of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as Amended), by changing the district
classification from Agricultural—One Acre (A-la) to Single-Family Residential— 10,000 Square
Feet(RS-10) at Kealakekua, South Kona, Hawaii, Covered by Tax Map Key: 8-1-008:004.
The applicant is Amy Hagen-Cowell Trust. The project area is approximately 6.875 acres.
Bill No. 202 was introduced by Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz, by request. Bill No. 202 is a
companion bill to Bill No. 201, to which discussion is open globally.
The Leeward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation for this amendment
to the State Land Use Boundaries Map and change of zone, which would allow the applicant to
subdivide the property into a total of 15 lots, with a minimum lot size of 14,000 square feet, with
one existing single-family dwelling and supporting infrastructure on each lot. The property is
located on the east(mauka) side of Hawaii Belt Road(Highway 11) at its intersection with Alii
Drive and Napo`opo`o Road, Ka`awaloa(mauka) in South Kona.
Bills No. 201 and 202 were postponed during the September 6, 2022, Planning Committee
meeting. Chair Kierkiewicz convened a meeting with the Hawaii Department of Transportation,
Planning Department, and the applicant regarding the required traffic assessment and language to
condition the assessment as well as subsequent work.
On September 20, 2022, Bill No. 202, Condition E, was amended with the contents of
Communication No. 945.1, which outlines traffic assessment requirements and timeframe for
implementation as it relates to Final Subdivision Approval.
PC Report No.: 78
PC-78 Page 2 September 20,2022
Harry Takiue, Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), appeared before Your Committee
via Zoom and noted that HDOT's main concern was that the traffic assessment is completed by a
State-licensed engineer. He stressed that access is entitled, but the assessment would determine
what improvements are needed to ensure access, including potentially a second access is safe and
feasible.
Committee Members Maile David and Holeka Inaba asked what the amount of affordable '
housing credits is and what the price would be for those lots. Mr. Fuke explained that the 15 lots
trigger three affordable housing credits, which will be priced at 80 percent of the area median
income.
Committee Member Tim Richards commended the applicant for the responsible community
engagement efforts and mentioned the support of the neighboring properties is what makes this
the type of responsible development that's needed.
Committee Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz thanked the applicants, their representatives, and
Mr. Takiue for their time and cooperation. She summarized that the traffic assessment will
include recommendations to address the traffic sight-issues that must be completed before Final
Subdivision Approval.
The vote was then taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a favorable
recommendation and passed with eight"ayes,"with Committee Member Heather Kimball
absent.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 202, as
amended to Draft 2, and recommends its passage on first reading.
jS
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
INABA X
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X
KIERKIEWICZ X
KIMBALL X
LEE Lox x ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS X PC REPORT NO.: 78
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: OCT 0 5 2022